Organ donation decisions should be left to the individual not the law

WHILE I have every sympathy with anyone in need of an organ transplant, I must question Tom Mitchell’s suggestion that organ donation be made compulsory (Letters, August 27).

Is it not everyone’s human right to decide how their mortal remains are disposed of, rather than have body parts taken without their consent.

One hundred years ago they called it body snatching.

Today a recipient of a donated organ knows that it was given willingly. How would they feel knowing it may have been taken without consent, possibly causing a lot more grief to the deceased loved ones?

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Surely a better way would be for the government to spend more time and money promoting organ donation and trying to educate the general public, rather than removing another of our civil liberties.

Graham Hayden, Malvern Avenue, York.

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Comments (4)

A law stating that everyone should have their organs donated after their death would never be passed. I think the idea of an opt-out system rather than the current opt-in would be a far better choice - people would be under no obligation to donate their organs but for the majority of people who agree with the cause but never actually get round to signing up, this would make all the difference.

A law stating that everyone should have their organs donated after their death would never be passed.
I think the idea of an opt-out system rather than the current opt-in would be a far better choice - people would be under no obligation to donate their organs but for the majority of people who agree with the cause but never actually get round to signing up, this would make all the difference.SpinningJenny

A law stating that everyone should have their organs donated after their death would never be passed. I think the idea of an opt-out system rather than the current opt-in would be a far better choice - people would be under no obligation to donate their organs but for the majority of people who agree with the cause but never actually get round to signing up, this would make all the difference.

Score: 3

CHISSY1 says...2:47pm Mon 1 Sep 14

I agree,my body my choice.

I agree,my body my choice.CHISSY1

I agree,my body my choice.

Score: -18

Pinza-C55 says...3:39pm Mon 1 Sep 14

There's another aspect to this; as originally set up the NHS was a public service and was not intended to make a profit, but as many of us know it is now essentially privatised. When I am dead my organs are no use to me any more but I am damned if I want any of the privatised parts of the NHS to make a profit out of them.

There's another aspect to this; as originally set up the NHS was a public service and was not intended to make a profit, but as many of us know it is now essentially privatised.
When I am dead my organs are no use to me any more but I am damned if I want any of the privatised parts of the NHS to make a profit out of them.Pinza-C55

There's another aspect to this; as originally set up the NHS was a public service and was not intended to make a profit, but as many of us know it is now essentially privatised. When I am dead my organs are no use to me any more but I am damned if I want any of the privatised parts of the NHS to make a profit out of them.

Score: -1

far2bizzy says...3:50pm Mon 1 Sep 14

Funnily enough I was having a chat with St.Peter just the other day and this topic cropped up. Apparently you’ve no need to worry, Graham, they keep plenty of spares at the Pearly Gates, in case someone turns up with a bit missing. They used to struggle in the olden days, he said - martyrs turning up without this or that. Heads were the worst – finding a face that matched, but the odd heart or liver – no problem.

Funnily enough I was having a chat with St.Peter just the other day and this topic cropped up. Apparently you’ve no need to worry, Graham, they keep plenty of spares at the Pearly Gates, in case someone turns up with a bit missing. They used to struggle in the olden days, he said - martyrs turning up without this or that. Heads were the worst – finding a face that matched, but the odd heart or liver – no problem.far2bizzy

Funnily enough I was having a chat with St.Peter just the other day and this topic cropped up. Apparently you’ve no need to worry, Graham, they keep plenty of spares at the Pearly Gates, in case someone turns up with a bit missing. They used to struggle in the olden days, he said - martyrs turning up without this or that. Heads were the worst – finding a face that matched, but the odd heart or liver – no problem.

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